O.J. Mayo has never said anything about being paid to play for USC.  He finally broke that silence today on the Dan Patrick show.  Mayo denied ever getting paid while at USC.  “It’s a big mess,” he said. “I think I had the wrong type of people around me and maybe they had some things going on that I didn’t know about. Maybe not.” He added that there was a lot going on behind-the-scenes that he didn’t have control over. 

Mayo also said he wished former USC basketball head coach Tim Floyd had paid someone to get him to play at USC.  Despite this, the Memphis Grizzlies guard said he wouldn’t have needed another incentive to go to USC.  “It’s the best babes in the world. Sunny weather. Academically it’s great there,” Mayo said.

On Sunday May 11, 2008, a former associate of Mayo’s told ESPN the basketball star allegedly violated NCAA rules by accepting $30,000 in cash and gifts while he was in high school and college.  Louis Johnson said Rodney Guillory received monthly payments and gave a percentage of it to Mayo. 

The NCAA is currently investigating the accusations against the Mayo and USC’s football program.  USC has self-imposed sanctions; the basketball team is not allowed to play in any postseason games. 

To hear more on what Mayo said, watch ATVN live at 6 pm on Trojan Vision 8 or catch the live stream on http://www.trojanvision.com.